Reclining mechanism for barber&#39;s chairs.



' E. E. KOKEN. REGLINING MECHANISM FOR BARBERSWHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. 1907- Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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E. E. KOKBN.

REOLINING MECHANISM FOR BARBERS CHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. 1907.

91 1 ,135. 1 Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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E. E. KOKEN.

REGLINING MECHANISM FOR BABBERS CHAIRS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 25. 1901.

911,135, Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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' Bi E. KOKBN. H BEGLINING MECHANISM FOR BARBERS CHAIRS.

v APLIQATIQN FILED JULY 25, 1907. 91 1, 1 35. Patpnted Feb. 2, 1909.

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IIIIIII/II/ IT/I ERNEST E KQKEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

' REGLINING MECHANISM FOR BARBERS CHAIRS.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

Application filed July 25, 1907. Serial No. 385,551.

To all whom it may concern: P

Be it known that LERNEST E. IQOKEDQQI citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reclinin "Mechanisms for Barbers Chairs, of which t 1e following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to barbers chairs,

and. particularly to the intermediate con-'- necting means between the back of the chair and the apron which carries the foot-rest.

In the drawings forming artof this specification, in which like num ers'of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a view of a barbers chair, in side elevation from the base to the enlarged head of the piston and flange supported thereby, and

in section above that point, showing said new connecting means in its position relative to the other parts of the chair Fig. 2 is a sec tional view through the piston-head, illustrating the location and arrangement of, a means for locking the connected back 'of the chair and apron in any desired position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the lever for controlling the vertical adjustment and rotation of the chair body :Fig. 4 is a top plan viewof the means intermediately connecting the back of the chair and the apron, showing same with the parts in position for the occupant to recline Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the chair with the upholstered seat removed, but shown in dotted lines, so as to show the frame for supporting same, and means connecting the frame with the apron; Fig. 6 is. a detail, partly in top plan View and partly in section, showing the means of attachment of the apron and chairback, etc. to the side frames; Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views of the samedetails; Fig.

9is a top plan detail view of the rear rail and connections for same vdth the side members, and, also, of the transverse member and its mode of connection with the side members,

and Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the'line 1o1o, Fig. 9.

The main elements of the mechanism shown in the drawings and their manner of operation have been fully described in my application for patent therefor, Serial No. 157,032, which is still pending. The poputheir functions may be un larity of the chair therein illustrated, de-

scribed, and claimed has led to the production of the improvements for which a patent is sought by the present application.

In order that these im rovements and d erstood and distinguished from that which is already disclosed by the pending application, the main mechanism will first be redescribed, and afterward said features of improvement will be clearly set forth and, particularly, pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the base of the chair, 2 the pedestal which is in the form of a cylinder, in which the piston 3 reciprocates, said iston being enlarged at its upper end into tne casing 4, through which the shaft 5 enters. The chair-back 6 has projections or cheeks 7 adjacent its lower portion, same being pivotally comiected at 8 to the sideemembers or arms 9 of the chair. Located at such a point in the projections 7 as to give them the operative effect of levers, are the pivotal connections 10 between the projections 7,-carried by the chair-back 6 and the upward projections 11 from the seat-supthe horizontal flanges 16 arranged angularly i with relation to the upright portion 17 of the side-bars 13. Depressions 18 are formed in the flanges 16 of the two side-bars 13 to re ceive the ends of'the cross-bars 14, so that they are countersunk therein and rest upon the plates 19, which are formed integral with the flanges 16 and underlie the depressions 18. Said ends of the cross-bars 14 are pierced by openings through which, at one end, the pins or lugs 20 pass, said lugs being formed integral with the plates 19, and being retained in position-by the cotters or splitpins 21 passing through the lugs 20. At their other end, the cross-bars 14 are fixed to the other flange 16 by the bolts 22 or other suitable means.

The side-members 9 may be connected to the piston 3 by any suitable means, so as to move vertically and rotatably therewith, and

are preferably rigidly connected together as, for instance, by the transverse body-supporting portion 23, which is supported by the piston 3, being shown in the drawings as borne by a flange 24 integral with the casing 4 formed on said piston, and adapted to move vertically with said piston, and carrying with it the superstructure of the chair, as hereinafter described.

The upholstered seat 25 rests upon the flanges l6, and is held from horizontal movement by the pins or lugs 20 borne by the plates 19, which pins fit into suitable sockets (not shown) in the frame-work of the upholstered seat 25, the construction of the upholstered seat being of the common character.

The projections 15 are pivotally connected at 26 to the levers of the third order These levers are fulcrumed at the pivotal points 23, and, by said pivots 23, are connected with the side-members 9. The levers 27 form the supports for the apron 29, which carries the foot-rest 30. The seat-support 12 being pivotally connected at 26 t' the levers carrying the apron 29, and at 10 to the chair-back 6, and the back 6 being pivoted at 8 to the side-members 9, and the levers being, also, pivoted thereto at 23, and the seat 25 resting on the seat-support 12, it is obvious that the parts that carry the occupant of the chair depend from the pivots 28 and 3, and are adapted easily to swing thereon when motion is imparted to the back 6 by the barher, the sid.e1nembers 9 being meanwhile stationary.

When the chair is in the reclined position shown in Fig. 4:, the foot-rest lock-bar 33 is tightly held by the clamping pieces 34 and 35, which normally look said lock-bar 33 by reason of the pressure of the springs against the plate 34, which tends to press the plate 34 against the bar 33, and the latter against the plate 35, the lock-bar 33 being thus locked. The plates 34 and 35 are pivotally united to each other by the hinge 37. The elongated screw-bolts 38, also, connect them.

When it is desired to place the back and foot-rest in the position for the occupant of the chair to recline, the operator releases the lock-bar 33 by rotating the shaft 5 with the hand-lever 39, and, grasping the chair-back 6 firmly in his hand, pulls same bachwardly and depresses same to the desired angle. As the chair-back is pivoted at 8 to the sidemembers or arms 9 of the chair, it will thus swing downwardly, and, being pivotally connected at 10 to the projections 11 of the seat-support 12, it forces said seat-support 12 in a forward substantially horizontal line the real character of that line being, however, a slight and peculiar but indescribable curve or series of curves, by reason of the fact that it is stationarily pivoted at 8 and again pivotally connected at 10 at such a distance from its axis of rotation on the pivotal-point 3 as to cause the lever 7 to import to it a sulfistantially horizontal longitudinal forward movement. This horizontal longitudinal forward movement of the seat-sup port 12 causes the projections 15 to push the lovers 27, which connect the apron 2E) and foot-rest 30 to the seat-support 12, and in this way to raise the same on the pivotal point or fulcrum 23. when the desired movement has been accomplished and the chair reclined at the angle sought, the footrest lock grasps the lock-bar 33 and all of the parts connected with the reclining 1110(llanism are innnediately locked in the position above stated. il luri it is desired to return the chair back to the upright position, the lock-bar 3 unlocked, the barber with his free hand raises the chair-back (l to a vertical position, which causes all the parts to move in the reverse manner to that above described, and returns same to the position illustrated in Fig. l.

It is furthermore clear that in view of the manner of manipulation of the reclining mechanism exhibited in the present application, as well as of the well-known heavy construction of harbors chairs, it is essential that a harbefls chair shall be provided with a weighty base. This weight is con veniently provided in the chair illustrated in the drawin 's of the present case in means for the vertical adjustment of the chair which is hercinabove described as a necessity in barbers chair. Thus, in a barbers chair the weighty base allows for the vertical adjustment of the chair-body, (he chair-body is solid and substantial, and the reclining mechanism, which particularly the object of the present application, is concctcd with said solid and substantial chairbody, forming part thereof, and the whole unites in a perfect and true combination to form a chair suitable for the purposes of a barber and specially dapted to his exigencies, and hereafter referred to in the claims as a chair of the type described In. the claii'ns the word base refers not only to the base proper l, but to all that base portion of the chair, which includes the pedestal 2 also, as distinguished from the chair-superstructure, which comprises the side-members, the chaii l'iack, the apron, and the part connecting the side-members from which the piston depends.

Having thus explained the chair in which the special improvements which are the subject of the present application are to be embodied, it should next be remarked that i it is the purview of the present appli alien that the chair of said pending application shall be constructed of metal instead of wood. While said pending applicatimi is not limited to a chair made of wood, yet the drawings thereof exhibit large parts of it constructed of wood, and in said application the details of adaptation of the subjectmatter of that application to'a metal construction were not worked out because the actual construction of a metalrchair had not then been attempted, but same has since been accomplished, revealing the existence of problems requiring the making of the in ventions of the present application in order to solve them and to overcome the difiiculties arising from the making of said chair chiefly of metal. j

With the apron 29 constructed of metal, as in the chair of the present application, it was found that the balance of weight of the chair-back, longitudinally-moving seat-support, the chair-occupant,-and the apron was disturbed, due to the greater weight thereby imparted to the apron. 7

One of the special merits of the construction embodied in the former application is that the parts are so arranged and the seatsupport so hung from the moving chair-back and apron as to locate the weight of the chair-occupant in such position and relation to the other members as to derive help, rather than hindrance, from the presence of the weight of the chair-occupant. With the making of the apron 29 of metal, however, it was found that the greater weight thus given to the apron deprived the operator from the chair-back ofthe advantage, of

the weight of the cllaii'eoccupant resting upon the middle member. and being hung from the chair-back and apron, due to the fact that the weight of the apron when made of metal is relatively excessive.

To overcome the disproportion of weight occasioned by the introduction of the metal apron, the relation of the points of pivoting of the apron to the side-members 9 and of the seat-support to the apron, and,again, of the chair-back to the side-members and to the seat-support, must be changed so that the center of gravity of the entire construc tion, including the chair-occupant, will be altered. This is best accomplished as follows (it being understood in the following description that the movable parts are in the position depicted in Fig, 1). v

First, there are provided the elongated arms 31 and 32 projecting rearwardly from the arms or levers 27. The pivotal point for each of said levers 27, by which same are attached to the side-members 9, is located as far forward as possible, while the pivotal points by which said levers 27 are connected to the upward projections 15 from the seatsupport are located as far back as possible, the degree of rearwardness of said pivoting being enhanced by the special elongation of the arms 31 and 32. The elongated arms 31 and'32 are substantially'at right anglesto the main body of the levers 27 The pivotal points between the projections 15 and the ends of the elongated arms 31 and 32 are so located as to be further toward the rear than in the above-named pending application for patent.

Second, to assist in carrying out the solution of the problems arising from the heaviness of the apron caused by its metal construction, the pivotal points 10 have been moved still further back than in said pending application so as to assist in the rebalancing of the parts. This helps to change the center of gravity of the four members involved in this problem, namely, the chair-back, seat-support, apron, and chair-occupant.

By this rearrangement of the relative position of the pivotal points 8 and 10, cooperation is secured between the movement of the chair-back and the levers 27 in a manner which is necessary for the right operation of levers shaped like levers 27, but which was not necessary with the straight levers of the pending application for patent.

Since in the present construction the sidemembers 9 are formed of metal, it becomes necessary to provide special pivot sockets by which the chair-back and levers 27 may be connected thereto. Moreover, to save unnecessary weight of the structure and to enhance the beauty of the appearance of the chair, the side-members 9 are made of concaved metal, withltheir convexity outward. This produces in their upper inner porticns the effect of a groove 40, and in this groove or concavity 40 are provided the forward bosses 41 and the rear bosses 42. One boss 41 and one boss 42 is formed in a concave portion 40 of each side-member 9, and in the bifurcated in the upper portion thereof so as to form a yoke 45, both arms of which are perforated to receive the pin 46 which passes through said arms and pivots within and to each forward yoke the arms 31 and 32 of the lever 27 and within and to each rearward yoke one of the checks 7 projecting from the chair-back.

In the rear of the side-members 9 bosses 47 are formed, which project out of the concavity of the side-members at such a point near the rear wall thereof as to form a seat 48 between same and said rear wall for the end 49, of the rear rail 23 As shown in the drawings, the curvature of the rail fits the curvature of the rear wall of the concavity of the side-members. The perforated lugs 50 project forward from the rail 23 and overlap the bosses 47, so that the bolts 51, passing through the perforations in lugs 50 and coop crating with threads in recesses in bosses 47,

firmly bind the rail 23 a to both side-members and thus the latter to each other.

The transverse member 23 is connected to the side-members, and the same thereby to each other, as follows: Lugs 52 project inwardly from the side-members 9. Vertical perforations 53 pass therethrough and register with perforations 54 through the arms 55 of the transverse member 23. Bolts 56, passing through the perforations 53 and 54, firmly attach the transverse member 23 to the side-members 9, and, thereby, the latter to each other.

A strong unitary structure is formed of the pair of side-members 9, the transverse member 23, and the rear rail 23 by means of the particular means of attachment of said several parts shown and described, and a structure is thereby provided adapted to receive and be combined with the moving chair-back, apron, connected seat-support, the hanging of which upon connections to such a unitary structure is the dominant feature of this type of chairs.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a barbers chair, the combination of a chair-body comprising a pair of side-mem bers: and a transverse member connecting same, a chair-back pivoted to each of said side-members, an apron also pivoted to each of said side-members, a longitudinally-movable seatsupport intermediate said chairback and said apron and pivoted to both, the pivotal points for the connection of said support to said chair-back being when the chair-back is vertical, to the rear of the pivotal connection of said chair-back to each of said side-members, and the pivotal points between said seat-support and said apron being well to the rear of the points of pivotal connection of said apron to said side-members.

2. In a barbers chair, the combination of a chair-body comprising a pair of side members and a transverse member connecting same, a chair-back pivoted to each of said side members, an apron also pivoted to each of said side members, a longitudinally-movable seat-support intermediate said chairback and said apron and pivoted to both, the pivotal points for the connection of said support to said chair-back being both while said chair-back is vertical and after same is partly inclined to the rear of the pivotal connection of said chair-back to each of said side members, and the pivotal points be ween said seat-support and said apron being well to the rear of the points of pivotal connection of said apron to said side members.

3. In a barbers chair, the combination of a chair-body comprising a pair of side-members and means cross-connecting same, a chair-back pivotally connected to each of said side-members, an apron also pivoted to said sideanembers, and a longitudinallymovablc seat-support provided at its front with a pair of forked upward projections and at its rear with another pair of forked upward projections, said apron being provided with elongated rearwardly-extending arms pivoted within said, forward forks and said chair-back having projecting means pivoted in said rear forks.

4. The combination of sidc-members having boss projecting from each and a projection from each side member adjacent said boss so as to form a recess therebetneen and a rear rail the ends of which lit into said recesses.

5. The combination of side-members having a boss projecting from each and a projection from each side-member adjacent said boss so as to form a recess thercbctween, a rear rail the ends of which fit into said recesses, and means for attaching said rail to said bosses.

6. T he combination of side-memlwrs having a boss projecting from each and a projection from each side-member adjacent said boss so as to form a recess therebetween, a rear rail the ends of which fit into said recesses, and lugs projecting from said rear rail for attachment to said bosses.

7. he combination of side-members having a boss projecting from each and a projection from each side-memlmr adjacent said boss so as to form a recess thercbetweon and a rear rail the ends of which fit into said reesses, and said rear rail being provided with lugs which extend. substantially at right angles to said bosses for attachment thereto.

8. The combination of sidcancmbers having a boss projecting from each and a projection from each side-member adjacent said boss so as to form a recess therebetwcen and a rear rail the ends of \';liich fit into said rccesses, and said rear rail being provided with lugs which overlap said bosses for attachment thereto.

9. The combination of side-members hava boss projecting from each and a projection from each side-member adjacent said boss so as to form a recess therebetween and a rear rail the ends of which fit into said recesses, said rear rail being provided with perforated bosses, the perforations therein being adapted to receive bolts for the union of said lugs with said bosses.

10. The com liiination of side-members having a boss projecting from each and a projection from each side-member adjacent said boss so as to form a recess therebctween and a rear rail the ends of which fit into said recesses, said bosses containing threaded, re cesses and said rear rail being provided with perforated lugs, the perforations in which register with said threadedrecesses, and bolts for connecting said lugs, to said bosses. i

11, In a barbers" chair, the'combination of a chair-body comprising a pair of side-members, a chair-back pivoted to each of said side-members, an apron also pivoted to each of said side-members, a longitudinally-movable seat-support intermediate said chairback and said apron and pivoted to both, the pivotal points for the connection of said support to said chair-back being, when said back is vertical, to the rear of the pivotal connec tion of said chair-back to each of said sidemembers, and the pivotal points between said seat-support and said apron being to the rear of and beneath the points of pivotal ppnnection of said apron to said side-memers.

12. In a barbers chair, the combination of a chair-body comprising a pair of side-members, a chair-back pivoted to each of said side-members, an apron also pivoted to each of said side-members, a longitudinally-movable seat-support intermediate said chairback and said apron and pivoted to both, the pivotal points for the connection of said support to said chair-back being, when said back is vertical, to the rear of the pivotal connec tion of said chair-back to each of said sidemembers, and the pivotal points between said seat-support and said apron being to the rear of lines extending from the bottom of the apron to the points of pivotal connection of said apron to said side-members.

13. In a barbers chair the combination of concaved metal side-members having bosses projecting therefrom within said concavity, said bosses being formed with sockets therein, a chair-back having members projecting from the lowerportionthereof, each of said members being provided with a pin extending therefrom and into one of said sockets, an apron provided in its upper portion with a pair of pins extending t erefrom and into others of said sockets, and aninter'mediate seat support pivoted to said chair-back and said apron, the pivotal points for the connection of said support to said chairsb'ack being, when said back is vertical, to therear of the pivotal connection of said chair-back to each of said side-members, and the pivotal points between said seat support and said apron being to the rear of and beneath the points of pivotal connection of said apron to said side members. j r

14. Ina barbers chair, the combination of concaved metal side-members having bosses projecting therefrom within said concavity, said bosses being formedwith sockets therein, a chair-back having members projecting from the lowerportion thereof, each of said members being provided with a pin extending therefrom and into one of said sockets, an

'socketed bosses, an apron also apron provided in its upper portionwith a pair of pins extending therefrom and into others of said sockets, and an intermediate seat support pivotedto said chair-back and said apron, the pivotal points for the connection of said support to said apron being to the rear of the points of pivotal connection of said apron to said sidemembers.

15. In a barbers chair, the combination of a. pair of concaved side-members having socketed bosses projecting therefrom, a chair-back and an apron each having projections therefrom which seat in said sockets, a longitudinally-moving seat-support in pivotal connection with said a ron and said chair-back, the Weight of the ciair-occupant being supported by the projections within said sockets, a piston to support said sidemembers, and a locking means extending from said piston to the apron of the chair.

16. In a barber s chair, the combination of a chair body comprising a pair of side-members, a chair-back pivoted to each of said side-members, an apron also pivoted to each of said side-members, a longitudinally-movable seat-support intermediate said chairback and said apron and pivoted to both, the pivotal points of connection of said support to said chair-back being, when said back is vertical, to the rear of the pivotal connection of saidchair-back to each of said side-members, a piston supporting said sidemembers, and locking means extending from said piston to the a ron of said chair.

17. In a arber s chair, the combination of a pair of side-members having socketed bosses projecting therefrom, a chair-back pivoted to each of said side-members by members projecting from said back into said socketed bosses, an apron also pivoted to each of said side-members, a longituinally-movable seat-support intermediate said chair-back and said apron and pivoted to both, a piston to support said side members, and a locking means extending from 'said piston to the apron of the chair.

18. In a barbers chair, the combination of a pair of side-members having socketed bosses projecting therefrom, chair-back pivoted to each of said side-members by members projecting from said back into said ivoted to each of said side-members, a longitudinally- .movable seat-support intermediate said chair-back and said apron and pivoted to both, a piston to support said side-members, anda rod slidable with respect to said piston and connected to said piston and to one of the movable parts of the chair, thereby to lock the chair.

19. In a barbers chair, the combination of a pair of side-members, a chair-seat supported thereby, a lug projecting inwardly from each of said side-members, a transverse member which bears a pair of arms each I In testimony whereof I have aflixed my spaced away a relatively short distance from signature 1n presence of two Witnesses. an end of said transverse member, and

means Which bind said arms and lugs ERNEST KOKEN together, the ends of said transverse member Witnesses: engaging both said lugs and said side- GLADYS VVALTON,

members. HUGH K. WAGNER. 

